Mystery surrounds Jooste's death

Authorities face scrutiny over their investigation and the public demands accountability

- MANYANE MANYANE

MORE than a year after the mysterious death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste, vital information regarding his death remains unaccounted for, said a police source.

Jooste was ordered to pay a R475 million fine for accounting fraud handed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).

However, he allegedly shot himself after police notified him that an arrest warrant had been issued against him.

It was reported that he succumbed to a gunshot wound at his Cape Town residence in Hermanus, but questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remain a mystery

The source said there was still no post-mortem and morgue number in the inquest docket and there was no proof of the weapon he allegedly used.

The Western Cape police said in a statement yesterday that the allegations were unfounded, as a post-mortem had been conducted and the report had been filed in the docket for court purposes.

"The investigation into the death of the late Mr Jooste had been concluded and the docket was submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority to be placed on the court role where a formal inquest will be conducted.